Australian Capital Territory

Utilities (Water Restriction Scheme)
Approval 2005 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2005—239
made under the

Utilities Act 2000, s 234 (Regulation making power); Utilities
(Water Restrictions) Regulations 2002, reg 5 (Approved water
restriction scheme)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
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The Utility (Water Restrictions) Regulations 2002, made under the Utilities Act 2000, s. 234, provides for a water restriction scheme in the ACT.

The scheme supports the Utility (Water Restrictions) Regulations 2002 providing for restrictions on the use of water in times of drought.  The scheme provides different stages of restrictions on the use of water, depending on the water storage at the time or the quantity of water of potable quality available.  However, an indicative water storage level does not apply to the declaration of Stage 1 and a lower target of water use is applied under Stage 1.

The scheme will be implemented by ACTEW Corporation Limited. The scheme 
provides for five (5) stages of water restrictions. ACTEW may declare water 
restrictions under a stage by reference to the capacity or quality of stored water 
available and/or the level of reduction in current and future water consumption.  

Stage 1 has a specific title: conservation measures and is based on the implementation of sound common sense uses of water by the community. 

Furthermore, in deciding which stage of restrictions should be in force, ACTEW may have regard to currently available weather forecasts and other meteorological advice, daily consumption levels in the immediately preceding period, the desirability of avoiding excessive reliance on only one of the ACT’s two water catchments, daily consumption levels in corresponding periods in previous years, risk of damage to property and any other relevant consideration. The most severe water restrictions will be imposed at stage 5.  The scheme provides for target reductions in consumption of water under each specific stage. In the use of water for private gardens and lawns and commercial nurseries and turf 
growers, the scheme provides a summer and winter watering hours regime for
sprinklers and hand held hoses. The definitions of summer and winter are provided in the notes to the scheme and are based on Australian Eastern Daylight Time and
Australian Eastern Standard Time.

The scheme also enables customers to apply for exemption or for the renewal of an
existing exemption where an existing exemption was granted due to medical reasons.